Make Cheesecake the Star of Your Dessert Table

Cheesecake can be the star of the dessert table when you make it yourself. Sure
you can buy one at the supermarket, but with a little time and effort, you can make
your own which will be much better than what you will purchase.

Make Cheesecake the Star of Your Dessert Table

Cheesecake can be the star of the dessert table, when you make it yourself. Sure you
can buy one at the supermarket, but with a little time and effort you can make your
own which will be so much better than what you will purchase.

For those who love cheesecake you know the rich, creamy, satin smooth
texture practically melts in your mouth. No wonder it is one of the best-loved desserts.

Combine time and patience and you will bake a cheesecake that will have everyone asking
for your recipe.

A top priority of making cheesecake is preparation. All ingredients should
be at room temperature. They will mix easier, and the finished cake will have a smoother
texture.

Begin by combining the cream cheese or ricotta and eggs thoroughly before
adding any liquid extracts, heavy cream or sour cream. Once the liquid ingredients,
which thin the batter, are added, lumps are almost impossible to remove.

The paddle attachment of an electric mixer is ideal for mixing the batter.
If you do not have a paddle attachment, use regular beaters at low or medium-low speeds.
Be careful to not mix too much air into the batter. This causes cracks and a cake
that is less creamy.

One of the most important ingredients in most cheesecakes is the cream
cheese. Always use regular cream cheese for cheesecakes, unless the recipe specifies
otherwise.

Just as important as the cream cheese is the base or crust. Usually, the
base is made of a mixture of cookie crumbs and softened or melted butter or margarine.
Although many recipes call for graham cracker crumbs, almost any cookie will do.

To easily crush the cookies, either grind them in a food processor fitted
with a metal blade or place them in a plastic bag and crush them with a rolling pin.

Now that you have your filling ready and your crust, what’s next? With
a spoon or rubber spatula, spoon the filling into the prepared spring form pan. Spooning
the filling will allow the ingredients to maintain their texture and volume.

If you follow the recipe perfectly, there are times when cracks will still appear
in your cheesecake. If this happens, don’t fear. Just add a topping to it and you
will be the only one who knows.

Extreme temperature changes can lead to surface cracks. Observe the low baking temperature
and once done, allow the cheesecake to set in the oven with the door slightly ajar
for an hour, or on the counter in a draft free place.

Let cheesecake be the star of your Christmas table this year. You can
contact me at the University of Arkansas Division of Agriculture in the Miller County
Courthouse, call 870-779-3609, or e-mail me at Chaley@uaex.edu. Be sure to follow me on facebook.com/MillerCountyFCS or Twitter @MillerCountyFCS

This is one of my favorite cheesecakes. It is so good you need to make
two.

Scrumptious Turtle Cheesecake

One and three fourth cups chocolate graham cracker crumbs

One third cup butter or margarine, melted

3 (8 ounce) packages cream cheese, softened

1 (14 ounce) can sweetened condensed milk

One half cup granulated sugar

3 large eggs, lightly beaten

3 tablespoons lemon juice

1 tablespoon vanilla extract

One and one half cup (9 ounces) semi-sweet chocolate chips

2 tablespoons chocolate flavor syrup

4 tablespoons caramel syrup or ice cream topping

One half cup chopped pecans

One fourth cup mini semi-sweet mini morsels

Preheat oven to 300 degrees F. Grease 9 inch springform pan. To make the crust, mix
crumbs and butter in a medium bowl. Press on to the bottom and 1 inch up the side
of the springform pan.

For the filling, beat cream cheese and sweetened condensed milk in large mixer bowl
until smooth. Add sugar, eggs, lemon juice and vanilla extract, beat just until combined.
Melt chocolate chips in microwave until melted. Chips may retain some of their shape.
Remove two cups of the cheesecake batter and stir it into the melted chocolate chips.
Drizzle 2 tablespoons of the caramel syrup over bottom of the crust. Alternately spoon
cream cheese batter and chocolate batter into the crust, beginning and ending with
the cream cheese batter.

Bake for 1 hour and 10 minutes or until the edge is set and the center moves slightly.
Cool in the pan on a wire rack, or in the oven with the door slightly ajar. Run knife
around the edge of cheesecake. Once completely cooled, add your toppings. Drizzle
chocolate and caramel syrup over the cheesecake. Sprinkle with pecans and mini-chocolate
chips. Refrigerate overnight or for several hours to allow the flavors to meld together.
Remove the side of the springform pan.